Japanese Knife Care Class with Tyler Melton | Hyde Park Store Only | 1 August 2026, 10:30am

Join us at the Kitchen Samurai Hyde Park store on Saturday 1 August for an morning dedicated to understanding, caring for, and getting the best out of Japanese knives. This is a Hyde Park exclusive event, hosted in store, and limited to just 6 seats.

The class is led by Tyler Melton, Kitchen Samurai’s head knife sharpener at Hyde Park and a knife maker in his own right. Tyler forges his own blades under the Toishi name, so this is not theory read off a card. It is someone who makes, sharpens, and lives with these knives every day, showing you exactly how they work and how to look after them.

What the Morning covers

Tyler will take you through the real fundamentals of owning a Japanese knife. How to wash, dry, and store your knives so they last, and why loose in a drawer is the fastest way to ruin a good edge. The differences between carbon, stainless, and stainless clad carbon steel, explained in plain language so you actually know what you own and what to buy next.

Then the part everyone remembers: a live patina demo on carbon steel. Tyler will take a clean, polished carbon blade and show you patina forming in real time, then walk you through his own knives at different stages so you can see what is normal and what is not. If reactive steel has ever scared you off, this is the bit that changes your mind.

He will follow with a sharpening demo on the whetstone, the angle and consistency that matter, and a before and after that speaks for itself. He will finish on the Japanese knife shapes themselves, gyuto, santoku, nakiri, petty, and yanagiba, and which one suits the way you actually cook. There will be plenty of time for questions, and a chance to handle knives and talk to Tyler one on one afterwards.

The details

Date: Saturday 1 August
Time: from 10:15am for 10:30am
Location: Kitchen Samurai, Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg. This event is at the Hyde Park store only.
Price: R250 per person
Seats: limited to 6
Included: free snacks and drinks throughout

How to book

This is an in store event at Hyde Park and with only 6 seats it will fill fast. Purchase your place here to reserve your spot. Please bring your booking confirmation with you on the day.

We would love to see you there.